Engineering Geology – Model Answers

a- A sample of soil was obtained from the site, the bulk density was found to be
1.97 gm⁄cm3 . with water content of 20.6%, and its specific gravity was 2.65.Calculate
the void ratio and the degree of saturation.

Givens: γb = 1.97 gm⁄cm3 , Gs = 2.65 , wc = 0.206.

Required: e , and Sr

Ww
WT Ws + Ww Ws (1 + Ws ) γs (1 + wc) Gs γw (1 + wc)
γb = = = = =
VT Vs + Vv V (1 + e) (1 + e)
Vs (1 + Vv )
s

2.65 ∗ 1 ∗ (1 + 0.206)
1.97 =
(1 + e)

e = 0.622.

γs Ws ⁄Vs Ws ∗ Vw Ws ∗ Vw Ws ∗ Vw ∗ e Sr ∗ e
Gs = = = = = =
γw Ww ⁄Vw Ww ∗ Vs W ∗ Vv Ww ∗ Vv wc
w e
Sr ∗ 0.622
2.65 = → Sr = 0.878.
0.206
Sr = 87.8 %.

b- During the inspection of a site for constructing a high rise building, a core sample was cut
of the compacted soil, the weight of the sample was 1885 gm. and its volume was 1038
cm3 .The water content was measured to be 8%, and the specific gravity of the soil was
2.63.

Calculate the following:

1- The void ratio.

2- The dry density.

3- If the soil was subjected to shower rains, and the soil was fully saturated, calculate the
increase in water content and the percentage of increase in calculate the increase in water
content and the percentage of increase in bulk density.

For 1 & 2:

Givens: 𝑊𝑇 = 1885 𝑔𝑚. , 𝑉𝑇 = 1038 𝑐𝑚3 , 𝑤𝑐1 = 8 %. 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐺𝑠 = 2.63.

Required 𝑒 , 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜌𝑑
Solution:

𝑊𝑇 1885
𝛾𝑏 = = = 1.82 𝑔𝑚⁄𝑐𝑚3 .
𝑉𝑇 1038

𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤 (1 + 𝑤𝑐)
𝛾𝑏 =
(1 + 𝑒)

2.63 ∗ 1(1 + 0.08)

1.82 =
1+𝑒

𝑒 = 0.56.

𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤
𝛾𝑑 =
(1 + 𝑒)

2.63 ∗ 1
𝛾𝑑 =
(1 + 0.56)

𝛾𝑑 = 1.69 𝑔𝑚⁄𝑐𝑚3 .

For 3:

When soil is fully saturated: 𝑆𝑟 = 1.

𝑒 ∗ 𝑆𝑟
𝐺𝑠 =
𝑤𝑐2

0.56 ∗ 1
2.63 =
𝑤𝑐2

𝑤𝑐2 = 0.21.

∆𝑤𝑐 = 𝑤𝑐2 − 𝑤𝑐1

∆𝑤𝑐 = 0.21 − 0.08

∆𝑤𝑐 = 0.13 = 13 %.

𝛾𝑤 (𝐺𝑠 + 𝑒) 1 ∗ (2.63 + 0.56)

𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = = = 2.04 𝑔𝑚⁄𝑐𝑚3 .
1+𝑒 1 + 0.56
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 − 𝛾𝑑
∆𝛾 = ∗ 100 %.
𝛾𝑑

2.04 − 1.82
∆𝛾 = ∗ 100 %.
1.82
∆𝛾 = 12 %.